200+ REAL

Canadian
 

PHRASES
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 Welcome to
Can Learn English

We have the best students! Why is that?

You’re different from all the other English language

students out there. You’re not trying to learn English to
impress your boss or hopefully get a promotion next
year.

You’re learning English for life. Like so many of the

students at Can Learn English, you have come to us
because you have big plans!

At Can Learn English we teach English for Canadian

life. Whether you need to improve your English to study,
work, or immigrate you are in the right place!

This book is an introduction to Canadian English phrases

and slang. You can find even more Canadian English tips
at canlearnenglish.com.

Dana
Your Canadian English Teacher

canlearnenglish.com
GREETINGS SAYING GOODBYE
Hello. Bye.
Hey. Bye bye.
Hi. Goodbye.
Hi ya (informal). See you later.
What’s up? See ya later (informal).
How’s it going? Talk soon.
Good day. Till next time.
Good morning. Take care.
Good evening

YES AND NO ASKING HOW

SOMEONE IS
Yes. No.
I don’t think so. How are you?
Sure.
Nah. How’s it going?
For sure!
Nope. How’s things?
Why not?
Not really. What’s up?
Okay.
How have you been?
What is new with you?
How is the family?
 RESPONSES
I’m fine thanks.
Things are good.
I’m well.
I have no complaints.
I’ve been better.
Great!

GIVING
POLITENESS
THANKS
Canadians are very polite people.
Thanks!
There is a tendency to use the
Thank you.
word "sorry" very often, even if
Thanks a lot!
you are not sorry.  
Great, that’s awesome.
Sorry, excuse me... I really appreciate it.
Sorry, do you mind if...? You’re so helpful.
Sorry, do you any...?
Sorry, is it okay if...?
ACCEPTING
THANKS
No problem.
You’re welcome.
Don’t mention it!
My pleasure.
It’s nothing.
Don’t worry about it.
I owe you one!
AGREEMENT
You’re right.
I agree.
For sure / Absolutely /
Definitely
I (totally) agree with you.
I feel the same.
No doubt about it!
I see your point.
Valid point.

DISAGREEING
PARTIALLY Canadians tend to be indirect and
AGREEING very polite when disagreeing with
someone. It is not usual for a
I see your point but… person to accuse someone of being
I sort of agree with you… wrong.
You make a good point I don’t agree.
but... I don’t see it that way.
I don’t think so.
I’m not sure about that.
ASKING FOR AN
Are you sure?
OPINION I don’t feel the same.
What do you think
about..?
What’s your opinion?
You know what I mean?
Do you agree?
What would you rather
do / have?

Issue 06
TO GIVE AN TO EXPRESS LIKE
OPINION (FOR SOMETHING)
In my opinion... I like…
Well, I think.. I’m into…
I feel like / that… I enjoy…
For me personally... I obsessed with…
Why don't we... I live for...

TO EXPRESS APOLOGIZING
DISLIKE
I am sorry.
I don’t like... I’m so sorry.
It isn’t for me. It was my fault.
I’m not crazy about… Please don’t be angry
I’m not fond of... with me.
I’m not the biggest fan of... Don’t be mad at me.
It was careless /
thoughtless / foolish of
me. 

ASKING FOR
INFORMATION
Can you tell me?
I would like to know…
Do you know…
Would you happen to
know…
Do you have any idea...
I am calling to find out...
(on the telephone)
TO ASK FOR HELP
Excuse me, I need some
help...
Can you tell me where / if /
how....
Do you know if…
Could you give me a hand?
Would you mind helping me
out?
OFFERING HELP
Would you like some help?
How can I help you?
Here, let me help you?
Want a hand?
Would you like a hand?
Need any help?
ASKING FOR
CLARIFICATION
Excuse me?
Pardon me?
Can you please repeat that?
Could you repeat that slowly?
What did you say?
Can you say that again?
I’m sorry, I didn't catch that.
HOW TO SAY NO
NICELY
I would like to, but I can’t.
I’m sorry, I can’t commit to that
right now.
No, I can’t do that, but here is
what I am able to do.
I want to, but unfortunately I
am unable to. 

HOW TO CHECK IF AT A SHOP

SOMEONE
Can I try this on?
UNDERSTANDS Where is the change room?
Did you understand me? Where is the fitting room?
Was I clear? Do you have this in another
Got it? size?
Okay? Where is the till? (cash register)
What are your hours?
When are you closing?
INTERRUPTING Can I place this on hold?

Pardon me...
Excuse me…
I hate to interrupt
Sorry to interrupt.
Do you mind if I butt in?
Can I steal you for a moment?
Can I mention something here?
Before we move on, I’d like to say
something.
Issue 06
 Vol 1 Issue 21

AT A RESTAURANT
Do you have a table for two?
September 2019

Can I have a menu, please?

I have a reservation under the name (Jones).
Can you bring us some ketchup, salt, water
Where is your washroom
Can you bring the bill, please?

AGREEING TO MAKING AN
PLANS APPOINTMENT
Great, I'd like to. Can a make an appointment
Count me in! on...?
Great! I'll be there. Do you have any time at....?
That sounds great! Can you squeeze me in at...?
I'm free then. When are you available?
Of course, would love to!

MAKING PLANS

Let's get together sometime.

Let's meet up sometime.
Do you want to do something?
Are you free on...
 Canadian
SLANG 101

Inside the Issue

EH HOW TO USE IT

This word is uniquely Canadian. When
you say “eh” you’re looking for
confirmation of your statement. You
say “eh” when you want to know if the
person you are speaking with agrees
with you. The word means the same
thing as right or yeah or no.
Some people think that Canadians say
the word “eh” after every sentence. For
example, we never say, “How’s it going,
eh?” Eh is only used at the end of a
sentence to ask if one agrees with your
statement.
The weather is nice out today, eh?
That was a great football match, eh?

LOONIE
This is the Canadian one dollar coin. It is called a loonie
because there is a picture of a loon on the coin. A loon is
an aquatic bird that resembles a duck and is common in
Canada. People will always refer to the one dollar coin as
a loonie.

I don’t have a five dollar bill, can I give you five loonies
instead?
September 2019
TOONIE Vol 1 Issue 21

A toonie is our two dollar

coin. It has a polar bear on
it. Canadians nicknames it a
toonie because that rhymes
with loonie. Cute, eh?

TOQUE
This is the most Canadian of all
Inside the Issue
Canadian slang. You won’t hear this
word spoken outside of Canada. A
toque is a warm winter hat, usually
knitted.

It is very cold outside so you will need to

wear a toque.

KERFUFFLE 
A commotion usually caused by a disagreement.

Selecting a new city counsellor caused such a kerfuffle.

CHESTERFIELD 
This is another word for a couch or
sofa.

Let’s go sit on the chesterfield.

CANADIAN FOOD DOUBLE
DOUBLE
AND DRINK A double double is a drip
coffee with two creams
and two sugars in it. This
is a common drink people
TIMMIES get at Timmies or other
This is the nickname for the popular Canadian coffee coffee shops.
shop Tim Horton’s. There are Tim Horton’s everywhere in
Canada! Sometimes they are right across the street from When ordering a coffee
one another (seriously). This is a place where you can you would say, “Can I have
buy coffee, donuts, and bagels. It is a beloved destination a double double please?”
by almost all Canadians.

I really need a coffee, can we stop at Timmies?

There are
3,820 Tim
POP Horton's in
This is what the American’s call soda and the Brits call a Canada.
fizzy drink.  It is a carbonated beverage, for example,
Sprite of Coca-cola.

What kind of pop do you have?

MICKEY
A mickey is a 375 ml
bottle of liquor.

I want to get a mickey of

rum from the store for
the party.
INFORMAL
WORDS  GIVE’R
This term is used mostly

BEAUTY in rural Canada and

means to put all of your
efforts into something. It
This is used to describe someone who is really nice. It is
can also mean to work
also used for something that has been done
very hard.
exceptionally well.
I need to finish this job so
I’m just going to give’r.
My friend Jane is a beauty.
It takes on a different
That was a beauty goal.
meaning when referring
to drinking alcohol. It
means to party very hard.

It’s my birthday so I’m going

to give’r.

THAT’S JOKES
This phrase is used as a response to a funny story.

“I bought my dog and I matching sweaters.”

“That’s jokes!”  
KEENER
A person who is too
ambitious, or the
teachers pet. 

"Peter is such a keener."

"Ya, it's so annoying!"

CEASAR
A Canadian cocktail with vodka,
tomato and oyster juice, hot sauce,
and celery salt. It is often served
with a celery stick or a pickled bean.

HOMO MILK
Full fat milk. In Canada, the fat is measured in percentage
(skim milk, 1%, 2%, homo milk).

In
WHITE OR BROWN Ontario
BREAD milk
Brown bread is whole grain bread. At a restaurant, the
waiter may ask "white or brown?" comes in
a bag.

KD
Kraft Diner, a boxed
macaroni and cheese. 
NAMES FOR CITIES AND
PEOPLE
VAN CITY
Nickname for the city Vancouver, British Columbia. Other
I am visiting Van City this weekend. nicknames
for Toronto
THE SIX
are
This is a term for Toronto coined by Toronto rapper Drake.
T dot, TO, T
You may see it spelled in various ways, such as 6, six, or
6ix. dot O dot

CANUCK
A Canuck is a slang word
for a Canadian. It is also
the name of the hockey
team based in Vancouver,
The Vancouver Canucks.

I am proud to be a Canuck.

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